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Malta Tourism Authority Licences & Applications
Accommodation

Resident Host Accommodation

Resident Host Accommodation

"Host family" means the person in whose name the licence for the accommodation of tourists has been issued and who resides in any building, howsoever described, not being a hotel, guest house, hostel or holiday premises, which is normally used for the permanent or temporary habitation of the licensee and is used or intended to be used for the concurrent habitation of guests.

An application can be filed online on this link.

Applicable Laws (Rights and Obligations)

Under the 2026 Regulations

Resident Host Accommodation is one of the four accommodation regimes consolidated into the 2026 Regulations.

What changes for this application

  • The former Host Family Application Regulations are replaced by the single consolidated framework, with harmonised MTA licensing and quality criteria.
  • Licensing follows the common requirements for accurate operator information and conformity with the applicable classification and quality standards.

Across all accommodation

  • A single, harmonised licensing framework now covers all categories of tourist accommodation; operating without MTA authorisation is expressly prohibited.
  • A Tourism Policy Compliance Certificate is required, where applicable, as a prerequisite for development and licensing.
  • Licences are issued only to the “proprietor in title” — owners, authorised agents, lessees or other lawful holders of rights over the property.
  • The reform signals a clear shift from volume-driven growth towards a more sustainable, higher-value tourism model.

Source: S.L. 409.24 — Tourism Accommodation Regulations, 2026, in force after a transitional period.

Documents needed with application

Applicant Licensee

  • Scanned copy of ID Card of Applicant
  • Recent Police Conduct of Applicant;
  • Layout Plan or Sketch plan of the whole premises with a detailed description of all rooms, and further indicating bedrooms and bathrooms (with measurements) which are to be used by Tourists; (not required if submitted;
  • No Objection of Parents, if Son/Daughter over the age of 18 is applying on his behalf and still living in the same household.

Timeframes

  • Submission of application: 0
  • Vetting of application: 5 days. The applicant will need to submit documents based on the specific application following the initial vetting process. The amount of time in this period depends on the applicant and the time taken by the applicant to provide such docs.
  • Inspection/Assessment: In such step, once again, the timeline is dependent on the applicant whether the standards are provided or not at the establishment. In the case that standards are not met then the applicant is asked to rectify, and process is paused.
  • Approval: 10 Days

Incomplete Application Forms

In the case of an incomplete application form, the Authority shall, without delay, inform the applicant of the need to supply any additional information or documentation, or of the need to conduct any interviews or inspection.

Nonetheless, when the Authority has not determined whether to issue a licence to an applicant, within the periods mentioned above, such applicant shall not be deemed, for all intents and purposes of law, to be licensed.

Means of Redress or Appeal

Any person who feels aggrieved by a decision of the Authority, as provided in article 14(1) of Chapter 409 – Travel and Tourism Services Act, may appeal to the Tourism Appeals Board, on payment of the prescribed fee (applicable fees as per Legal Notice 409.05), within fifteen (15) days from the date the decision on which the appeal is entered is communicated to the person concerned.

All information related to the Tourism Appeals Board can be found here.